2007 Season Opener, 4-6 May

[JohnS.]

As it seems like winter will just not end, and other threads are hinting at wanting the first group ride of 2007, I figure it's time to step up and give us all something to look forward to.

I've got the central part of a day ride for about 250 miles settled in my head already. But I'm not telling where in NY it'll go just yet, I need to ride a few of the roads and pick out how much dirt it'll be. I was originally figuring on sometime in mid-May, but my schedule keeps filling up. I've still got the first weekend in May open, if you all want to start signing up. Most of the ride will be Catskill Mountains and the Schoharie Valley... Maybe some venturing into the Adirondacks, but it may not fit...

I will freely admit that this is a work in progress, and I don't have answers to all the questions you'll have just yet. I likely will also have limited tme this week to pull it all together, but after this Friday, I can get right on it.

So, who's in? May 4-6; Camp Friday, ride Saturday, camp Saturday hopefully at the same place, depart Sunday. Camping will likely be within 30 minutes of Albany NY, biased to the south, but I haven't sorted out where yet...

RSVP here, and send in your suggestions.

JohnS.

[tmcgee]

If the weather is reasonable, I'll be returning from Allentown in the wee (ha!) hours of Saturday and could meet you guys before you get rolling on Saturday. I've got annual business in Pennsylvania on Thursday and Friday and usually leave to head north by 0430.

It's two hours from Allentown to NYC. Not quite sure how far Albany is from NYC.

[VtSTROM-K5]

OWW! Alright, stop twisting my arm:-D I'll go...

[RedAnt]

Unfortunately we have exactly opposite schedules. I can make any weekend in May except this one. :(

[Racingtown]

Sounds like a good weekend to me. This will be my first strommer group ride and I'm looking forward to it. I'm not sure if I'll camp, but it sounds like you'll be close enough for me to cruise down there for Saturdays ride.

I'm looking forward to it.

[JohnS.]

Racingtown, it'll be good to have some fresh blood, uh, I mean new faces... yeah that's it.

I looked into campsites, but came up empty handed. Since the weather could still be pretty iffy then, I was looking for a park that rented cabins or whatnot. So far, I've got nothing, as the State doesn't open many sites until 2 weeks later, and I haven't found a private place that's open then either (15 May seems to be the standard). So if any lurkers in the Catskill/Hudson/Saugerties area can recommend a good site that'll be open, I'm all ears. Otherwise I'll look for a hotel within walking distace of a public house, see if I can get a group rate and send out the name.

So far, I'm looking to follow the Moto-Maps New York Orange Ride, more or less. About 6 hours for 242 miles, which will likely get modified some more. For those without the map, or in case the GPS squad wants to play along here are most of the roads (in no particular order, so maybe someone will put them together in a more interesting way)

9W
23/23A
10
214
17
30

There's one stretch of road that was washed out twice last year, but fom what I know it's open again. And if it's washed out again from this late winter storm, we may get some additional adventure.

JohnS.

[tmcgee]

I don't know the area, John, but AAA has always had campground listings. A quick search on Catskills brought up a whole page of listings with dates, rates, and all that.

[BHazz]

Hi John,

That sounds really nice for the first ride of the season.

I found 3 campsites open all year:

Bowman Lake State Park
OXFORD, New York
Phone: 607-334-2718

Lake Taghkanic State Park
HUDSON, New York
Phone: 518-851-3631

Thompson's Lake State Park
ALTAMONT, New York
Phone: 518-872-1674

[VtSTROM-K5]

I Have a clean bill of Health (:shock:Refering to the Hand :shock: this time) and I'm all packed and ready to go moto camping!!:mrgreen:

[JohnS.]

Okay, I found a decent Campsite, but since the night time weather could get iffy, they also have cabins for rent at Taconic State Park, Copake Falls Area.

http://nysparks.state.ny.us/parks/info.asp?parkId=137

VTStromK5 and I took a ride just North of there on Sunday, and can vouch that the roads are good. The cabins sleep 4 and run about $100/night. Tent sites sleep 6 and go for about $20/night. As of today, pretty much the whole place is open/vacant, so last minute stragglers can likely be acommodated.

So, let's get a show of hands if you're coming and need a spot reserved, as well as if you want to fork up the extra few bucks for a Cabin. I'll keep the tally and reserve the campsites.

The nearest town that will have Hotels is Great Barrington, Massachusetts, about 10 miles away, but I haven't researched any.

JohnS.

[VtSTROM-K5]

I'm in & I'm Tenting!! ( as observed on prior trips, you may want to have me on a seperate site:rolleyes:) Where & when are we meeting???

[JohnS.]

I'm hoping to get to the site around 5-6:00p and set up camp.

Found this wood-fired pizza joint, and it sounded good to me, right on Main St. http://www.babalouiessourdoughpizzacompany.com/info.html We can meet up for dinner and bench racing at 7-ish.

Anyone coming from the North, we can meet up at 3:30p at the Dunkin' Donuts in Mechanicville NY (on Rt 4/32 on the south end of town). This should give enough time to get there and take the long way round.

So far I've only got VTStromK5 and myself. Where are the rest of you guys? Or did I pick one too far South for you guys to make?

JohnS.

[tmcgee]

If the weather isn't pouring down rain, I plan to join up with you Saturday morning.

[dmf109]

How'd I miss this thread?:confused:

I'd like to go, but won't be able to leave until 1ish on Saturday. You guys still planning to camp Saturday night? If so then I'm in.

[RedAnt]

How'd I miss this thread?:confused:

I'd like to go, but won't be able to leave until 1ish on Saturday. You guys still planning to camp Saturday night? If so then I'm in.

This is almost exactly my problem. I'll be camping at the Dearfield NH Fairgrounds on Friday night. I'm meeting up with friends at near-fest.com and don't see getting free until almost noon. Given good weather I'll already be on the bike and have it loaded to camp.

But the Copake Falls campsite is still 4 hours away, and I suspect we would get there just AFTER the Saturday ride.

I just looked over a book I bought "AMA Ride Guide to America" in ride #5 "Northern Berkshire Loop" that starts in Lee, MA. If we took the Eastern half of that loop to Wilmington, VT and then headed for Manchester, NH it's a 200mi, 5hr trip. Jack could also start this route with us and get half way home.

Here's a link to the route:
http://maps.google.com/maps?q=http://www.sr.unh.edu/~rea/stromtrooper/Copake.gdb.kml

[dmf109]

Sounds good to me Rob. We could leave at 4:00 and still be as well off as we were for the NY trip. (Besides, on every trip I end up meeting at the campsite after dark, why change now?)

[VtSTROM-K5]

Hey JohnS., I think the Double forums are confusing some of us.....I know I am....Some of the troopers might not be checking BOTH . And that May be responsible for the lower hand count

[dmf109]

Hey JohnS., I think the Double forums are confusing some of us.....I know I am....Some of the troopers might not be checking BOTH . And that May be responsible for the lower hand count

Exactly!............................!

[bmah]

I would like to join you guys on Saturday evening. Where will you be then?
I'm heading out on a longer trip south through PA, WV, KY and whatever I find appealing after that. I can't get away until the afternoon of the 5th and I am not planning on any camping while I'm out. Where can we meet up?

Thanks,

Jim

[dmf109]

PM sent to bmah, RedAnt and tmcgee.

John, I'm definitely in for a campsite Saturday night.

[MiloFu]

I'll be following your planning to see if I can hook up with you guys fairly early in the ride Saturday. Those who did the Adirondack ride last June may remember me. Some of you may even have heard that I sold my red '06 650 to Tucker from N.H. After 4 weeks, I realozed my Mean Streak just didn't cut it...took delivery of new '07 black/charcoal DL 1000 yesterday. I can definitely say that Mean Streak owner's don't have such a great bunch to commiserate with! So, by the end of the week, I should be able to figure out where I will join you...can't wait!

[VtSTROM-K5]

Welcome back into the fold Milo , Congratulations on the NEW VEE!!:cool:
WEE ( I couldn't resist that) will see you on saturday :twisted:

[flakker]

I'll be following your planning to see if I can hook up with you guys fairly early in the ride Saturday. Those who did the Adirondack ride last June may remember me. Some of you may even have heard that I sold my red '06 650 to Tucker from N.H. After 4 weeks, I realozed my Mean Streak just didn't cut it...took delivery of new '07 black/charcoal DL 1000 yesterday. I can definitely say that Mean Streak owner's don't have such a great bunch to commiserate with! So, by the end of the week, I should be able to figure out where I will join you...can't wait!

I wish I had the weekend free to join this ride so I could see the new bike. When I bought MiloFu's 650 from him, it didn't seem like he'd be getting another Strom... Imagine my surprise when he sent me email almost 4 weeks to the day of my purchase to show me pictures of his new 1000!

Congrats again on the new bike.

-Tucker

[RedAnt]

Dan and I are planning on heading to the campsite on Saturday. We do not need anything Friday night and will miss the real ride on Saturday. :(

We'll miss the Saturday ride, but should be able to camp with you on Saturday night. We'll then be riding back Sunday over the route I posted earlier in the thread. Anybody is welcome to join us on Sunday, but it makes the most sense for those heading North.

PS. I'll be the one guarding my Sargent seat so that MiloFu doesn't take it back!

[RedAnt]

I'll be following your planning to see if I can hook up with you guys fairly early in the ride Saturday. Those who did the Adirondack ride last June may remember me. Some of you may even have heard that I sold my red '06 650 to Tucker from N.H. After 4 weeks, I realozed my Mean Streak just didn't cut it...took delivery of new '07 black/charcoal DL 1000 yesterday. I can definitely say that Mean Streak owner's don't have such a great bunch to commiserate with! So, by the end of the week, I should be able to figure out where I will join you...can't wait!

It was odd how much you liked the Strom you sold Tucker, while you were selling it. I had to bite my tongue to keep from talking you out of selling!

Now you'll be one of the few that can give us the straight poop on the differences between the two Stroms. I'm sure Jack and Tom will be all ears.

[flakker]

It was odd how much you liked the Strom you sold Tucker, while you were selling it. I had to bite my tongue to keep from talking you out of selling!


Well done. ;)

[Fladrif]

Ok I'm slightly comfused... It isn't had to do I'll admit.

Which Saturday are you all talking about? Is it the Sat of the Stromette ride? Or next Saturday?

I'd love to start riding with you all, not sure if I'm ready to start carrying my camping gear. Got no problem leaving the house early to meet up and do a day ride.

[Fladrif]

haha maybe I should read the tittle of the thread....

[tmcgee]

I'm planning on joining in on Saturday morning. I'll be coming up from Allentown. Just give me a destination and a rendezvous time and I'll leave Pennsylvania as early as I have to leave to be there.

I may regret this camping thing, but I'm in for Saturday night.

[VtSTROM-K5]

Seems like we had a lot more people posting on the N.E. Troopers forum
during the winter, and now were back to the same 7 or 8 people.
HUH.! :???:
didn't think the word would get out so fast about what a group we are..:twisted:..:mrgreen::mrgreen:

[JohnS.]

Okay, I had to book 2 sites from Friday and Saturday, as it's a 2 night minimum at NY State Parks, so it'll be $14 a head, payable to me on site. There may be an access fee for vehicles over the 2/site limit, but I can't guarantee that, last time I brought in extra it wasn't a big deal, so if they don't ask for it, don't worry.

We have sites 32 and 33 in loop A at Taconic Park, Copake Falls, for Friday and Saturday (4-5 May).

Friday Night:
JohnS.
VTStromK5

Saturday Night:
RedAnt
dmf109
tmcgee
bmah

Some reference times:

Early Meet up to ride to the campsite from the North, Friday, 3:30, Dunkin Donuts, Routes 32/4 in Mechanicville, NY. Anyone planning on making this stretch with me, please drop me a PM by Thursday evening so I don't take off without you.

The Friday Night rendezvous will be Babalouie's Pizza, in Great Barrington Mass, about 7pm. I posted a link earlier.

Saturday AM, (and it pains me to select it, but it is a decent landmark) will be the McDonalds in Kingston, NY, 1231 Ulster Ave (9W), just south of Route 199 (which will take you over the Kingston Rhinecliff Bridge). This is about 40 Miles from the campground. Arrive about 8:30 for breakfast and planning on DEPARTING for the days events at about 9:30.

Not sure what time we'll be back to the site, I'm only planning about 270 miles, and can cut it short if needed to make up time, I'm shooting to be back in the Taconic area about 6:30-ish. We'll go back to the campsite first to drop tmcgee's stuff, and if the rest of the crew is there, great, otherwise, we'll hook up in the main square/downtown of Great Barrington about 7:30.

Sound like a plan?

I know I'm getting excited.

JohnS.

[VtSTROM-K5]

I don't get done work till 3:30 on fri...But I'll leave directly from there ...:cool:
I should make the campsite by 6:00pm:-D
I'm gonna see just how much the SB-900's can hold:eek:
Can't really say I'm excited but my sleeping bag seems warmer in the house:mrgreen:

[MiloFu]

I'll see you guys at McDonalds in Kingston at 8:30. So far, weather sounds very promising. Once I get my luggage, I might even camp on some future trip...whoa, did I just say that?

[Racingtown]

Unfortunately, I will not be able to camp, but I'll be at the McDonalds on Saturday morning.

Looking forward to the ride.

[tmcgee]

Sound like a plan?

Sounds good.

[jackpiner57]

Welcome back MiloFu!

I can join you guys at the campsite on Sat. evening around 6:00

I'll leave here at 1:00 -2:00 and according to MapQuest it takes about 4 hrs.

Let me know if this works out OK as far as camping goes.

Where is the campground in relation to Rt.344 in Copake Falls?

[dmf109]

Welcome back MiloFu!

I can join you guys at the campsite on Sat. evening around 6:00

I'll leave here at 1:00 -2:00 and according to MapQuest it takes about 4 hrs.

Let me know if this works out OK as far as camping goes.

Where is the campground in relation to Rt.344 in Copake Falls?

Cool you can make it Tom!

[jackpiner57]

Cool you can make it Tom!

Thanks Dan:mrgreen:

[JohnS.]

From NY State Parks Website:

Located in the town of Copake in Columbia County.
Taconic Parkway: Exit at Claverack-Hillsdale Exit. Take Route 23 east for 8 miles into Hillsdale. Turn right onto Route 22 south and go 4 miles to Copake Falls. Turn left onto Route 344 east. Park entrance will be ½ mile on the left.


Great to have more along for the ride/trip. I only booked the 6 of us in 2 sites, but the sites can handle more than that, but we run out of allowed vehicles. So far as I'm concerned, if you can get past the ranger at the gate, we'll fit you in. Some sites are pretty strict, some aren't; we'll see where they fall.

I wonder if the fire wood will be as easy to come by as it was for the Connecticut Lakes ride?

JohnS.

[dmf109]

Weather looking good

http://www.erh.noaa.gov/forecast/MapClick.php?CityName=Copake&state=NY&site=ALY

[jackpiner57]

Thanks JohnS.

I got it. Bikes don't take up much room, so maybe they'll let that slide. Four motorcycles only take up the room of one car

What firewood?

[tmcgee]

The bike is sending out a beacon every 2 minutes with current TNC/Radio settings. This does NOT mean that each position packet is heard and gatewayed to the internet, but if you click on the bike icon, it will give you the time, heading, and speed of the last packet received. The track map from the links on the left isn't that good, but it does work.

I'm off to Fogelsville, PA sometime later this morning (near Allentown) and will have the tracker on when I'm moving.

I plan to meet the group in Kingston, NY at 0830 on Saturday.

Should anyone wish to follow along, there should be at least a few packets getting through.

http://www.findu.com/cgi-bin/find.cgi?call=KA1TOX-10

[JohnS.]

Cool web site to locate you... But shame, it appears you were speeding....

Anyway, Jackpiner, I think you'd left the site in New Hampshire before the sleeping people in the nearby trailer were kind enough to "donate" some seasoned, dried, and split firewood to a few cold bikers... We'll probably just have to purchase some this time around...

JohnS.

[VtSTROM-K5]

those nice folks.. they were nice to give us wood to burn so we could be warm ..:mrgreen: :mrgreen:

[jackpiner57]

I distinctly remember SOMEONE walking over to the unattended wood bin after dark and coming back with wood. Isn't that right?:D

[VtSTROM-K5]

I seem to recall thru a slight alcohol induced haze (;)) that the Provider of said Fire Wood was in fact a (ohh, how to put this in perspective ) UN -Aware of the generosity they bestowed. Yeah , that's it ! GEnenerosity, sure.:mrgreen:

[tmcgee]

Does anyone know what kind of road US 209 is between I-84 in Milford, PA and Kingston, NY?

I know the part through the Delaware Water Gap very well, back to the days the truckers called it the Ho Chi Min Trail and it was a 65mph run on narrow two lane with no shoulder.

The trucks are legislated off it now (have been for years) and it was a very nice 45-50mph ride yesterday, with the occasional slowdown trough village areas.

anyway, it looks to be about 25 minutes longer than the interstate for me to get to the ride tomorrow and I'll take it unless one of you waves me off it.

Please email me: tfm@110.net

[MiloFu]

Saturday for me has become questionable, and there isn't supposed to be a rain cloud in sight. Actually, my son is up from Florida for 3-4 days and it is beginning to look like Saturday is the best day for us to spend some time together. I only see him a couple times a year, so... It isn't a sure thing that I won't make it, but, in case I don't, this way you aren't wondering if anything went wrong on my way down to meet you.
I was really looking forward to riding with the group because the area I think you will be riding is where my friends and I do most of our riding.
In case I don't make it, here are a couple of roads and places I wouldn't miss if I were you: 23A between route 32 and Hunter, route 214 between Hunter and Phoenicia, Brios Pizza in Phoenicia (wood-fired oven, great pizza), route 42 between route 28 and Lexington. If you are farther south than all this, consider route 97 west of Port Jervis (the LEGENDARY Hawk's Nest). Last, but not least, in the same vicinity as 23A already mentioned, there is an absolutely incredible county route 16 that you can get in the village of Tannersville...it is a nasty,steep,narrow road that has a huge, seemingly endless gorge on the right (if you are descending), no or very few guard rails. It is totally amazing that in this day and litigious society that a road like this is still open! County 16 isn't real easy to find, but look for a left turn (when going west) onto Main St. (ice cream stand/restaurant on corner, after that basically follow that road. For quite a while, you will be wondering what could possibly have impressed me...then you will find out!
I hope to be there, but have a great time!

[RedAnt]

Sorry to hear you may not be with us MiloFu, but I guess I don't have to guard my Sargent as much now. :cool:

Anyway for Milo or anybody else who might want to ride with us on Sunday I'll post our route home. If you have a Garmin gps the route can be downloaded from here:

http://www.sr.unh.edu/~rea/stromtrooper/2007/May/Copake

There is also a GoogleMap link if you just want to see the route.

I believe there will be at least three of us heading back this way.

[BHazz]

I was going to rent a cabin but it is $100 per night min. of 2 nights.
I'm going to sit this one out.

Have fun everyone!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[dmf109]

Another great ride!

Nice stream:
http://i97.photobucket.com/albums/l224/dmf109/May%202007/100_1765.jpg

Fun road:
http://i97.photobucket.com/albums/l224/dmf109/May%202007/100_1761.jpg

Green field (and jacket):
http://i97.photobucket.com/albums/l224/dmf109/May%202007/100_1750_2.jpg

'Stroms:
http://i97.photobucket.com/albums/l224/dmf109/May%202007/100_1760.jpg

Got home just after 7 (Rob and I got stuck behind numerous slow drivers going down Rte 101). Total mileage for me: 532.

Everyone make it back?

[tmcgee]

home just after 7 (Rob and I got stuck behind numerous slow drivers going down Rte 101). Total mileage for me: 532.

Everyone make it back?

I hate 101. :mad: ...almost as much as 101A.

Sorry I couldn't do today's part of the weekend ride. After leaving you this morning, I made it back to Boston a little after noon and promptly took a 3 hour nap.

958 miles for me since Thursday morning (no riding at all on Friday).

I'm working on getting a track uploaded from the Saturday Catskills ride attended by me, JohnS., VtSTROM-K5, and Racingtown. Pictures forthcoming as well.

[RedAnt]

Well even missing the main ride on Saturday, it was a good ride home on Sunday. Traffic on 101 wasn't much fun. I don't think I would do that on purpose, but it did get us home fairly early, which was nice.

The end of the weekend puts the Wee at 7200 miles since 8/1/06. It also leaves my shoulders a little sore. The 2" risers did seem better but they don't really solve the problem for me.:???:

It was kind of fun sliding around on dirt roads and jumping a fully loaded Strom.:D

It also sounds like we've got a lot going on this month!

[tmcgee]

VtSTROM-K5, JohnS., Racingtown (side B)
http://img243.imageshack.us/img243/5683/jackjohnrtmx8.jpg

Racingtown (side A)
http://img169.imageshack.us/img169/290/racingtownyq9.jpg

http://img160.imageshack.us/img160/4026/img0316hq5.jpg

http://img160.imageshack.us/img160/8681/img0322um6.jpg

Where the hell are we? What's up with all the Pennsylvania plates?
http://img243.imageshack.us/img243/420/img0321lx8.jpg

JohnS. tossing a dollar across the Delaware.
http://img243.imageshack.us/img243/4684/dollarfi2.jpg

[tmcgee]

Taconic State Park

http://img169.imageshack.us/img169/2783/img0318sb1.jpg

http://img243.imageshack.us/img243/324/img0323lz9.jpg

Two B sides and dmf109
http://img243.imageshack.us/img243/4656/img0324wb8.jpg

http://img243.imageshack.us/img243/3260/img0325fq4.jpg

http://img243.imageshack.us/img243/9801/img0326mt2.jpg

http://img243.imageshack.us/img243/4194/img0327np8.jpg

Maharaja jackpiner57
http://img243.imageshack.us/img243/7107/img0328xz2.jpg

http://img243.imageshack.us/img243/8763/img0330ch4.jpg

[MiloFu]

I thought I saw you guys, but maybe not. After having breakfast and bowling with my son (he's 32),who was visiting from Florida, I was lucky enough to hook up with some friends to ride. We basically rode 30 south down around the Pepacton Resevoir and back home on 30. I kept trying to get them interested in heading a little farther east and south, figuring we might see you guys. We were at the Sunoco station at the jct. of 30 and 23 in Grand Gorge at approx. 3:45pm (I think), I stepped out the door just in time to see 4 V Stroms turning right (30 North to 23 East). Was that you?
From the looks of the pictures, there should have been more than 4. Can't wait to find out more about your ride. I see Hunter Mt. in the background of one of the pics...does that mean you rode 23A to get there? Every time I ride 23A, I feel like I'm in NH. Did you get that feeling? Where else did you ride? Damn, I wish I had been with you. At least, I beat my son with a 210 average, three out of four games!

[tmcgee]

I was only tangentially aware of the route since I rode caboose all day, but what you say about when you saw us and where we were seems right. There were only four of us on the Saturday ride.

[RedAnt]

I thought that Dan got a picture of Jack in on the jump at the end of the dirt road on Sunday? That was going to be my favorite picture?

[dmf109]

I thought that Dan got a picture of [Tom, aka jackpiner57] in on the jump at the end of the dirt road on Sunday? That was going to be my favorite picture?

Nope. Missed the first one. The second one I missed by a fraction of a second. But I will attest to the fact that he got his loaded Wee off the ground (both tires) a good 4-6". We should rent 50 school busses for the next attempt. Maybe a ring of fire too.

[RedAnt]

I need that popcorn icon from advrider. I'm ready to watch.

[tmcgee]

I need that popcorn icon from advrider. I'm ready to watch.

Dunno how you save those things on a pc. I just drag them to the desktop on the mac. They're animated gifs.

[Racingtown]

It was a great ride Saturday for those that missed it. There are some amazing roads in the Catskills. Here are the pictures I have. I'm looking forward to the next ride.

http://lh5.google.com/image/yatescc/Rj9HOwDWGWI/AAAAAAAAAOY/iLtrKwJ_I4Y/s400/DSCN3360.JPG

http://lh6.google.com/image/yatescc/Rj9HTADWGYI/AAAAAAAAAOo/py6l9ZCtu6s/s400/DSCN3362.JPG

http://lh4.google.com/image/yatescc/Rj9HVgDWGZI/AAAAAAAAAOw/r5UoHattapM/s400/DSCN3363.JPG

http://lh3.google.com/image/yatescc/Rj9HdQDWGcI/AAAAAAAAAPI/m_L_nkJZTxE/s400/DSCN3366.JPG

[VtSTROM-K5]

I was going to rent a cabin but it is $100 per night min. of 2 nights.
I'm going to sit this one out.

Have fun everyone!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Bruce ,I have to say you missed one of the best rides we've had.:(
the weather & everything was perfect the temps wern't to hot or to cold, the campsite was very nice, the riding was exceptional.:-D
The people were the best.. Bmah, racingtown, it was great to meet and ride with you guys and look forward to more ... To all the N.E.Stromtroopers who didn't go .......Sorry! We missed having you with us & we look forward to meeting you & riding with you in any area we can ride..
JohnS. , I tried to signal you we were cutting off to the Sommerset Res. Rd. But short of cutting in on you I couldn't get your attention.:???:
Guess I'll have to get the Stebbel horn next...:twisted:.
THANKS for putting this run together.. and lets go again soon:mrgreen:

[JohnS.]

Well, I think I enjoyed putting this together as much as you folks did coming on it. It wasn't as much work putting it together as you might think, you just need to be a little bit organized, everyone who shows up has to ride thier own ride, so you don't need to worry too much. You will notice in all the pictures I seem to staring at map, or pointing which way we're going... I even did this for some stranded festival go-ers on Saturday... "We're from the City and have no idea about all these places/bridges/roads you keep talking about." But pretty much here's the checklist I used:

~Campsite
~Nearby town with decent hotel
~Friday night meet and greet location, time
~Saturday AM rendezvous location, time
~Expected return, for reference, we did about 320 miles in 8.5 hours start/return or 37 mi/hr with our breaks... And we didn't stop much or for long.
~Saturday Dinner can be flexible, as can Sunday breakfast.

And have a general idea of the route you want to take. Exploring is fun, but trying to turn around a group on a dead end cow-path can be real pain, and constant stops to check the map/GPS can detract from the day. I took breaks every 40-80 miles, depending on available locations, and upcoming expected roads (rest before the real twisty bits so everyone's fresh).

It's harder if you don't know the area really well, but the internet can solve most of the issues, I've personally not been to the Catskills in about 15 years before this trip...

So, who's got the next one?


And thanks to everyone who posted pictures...

JohnS.

[jackpiner57]

Another great ride with a great bunch of guys! I got there Sat. evening at 5:00. We had a fire and some brews and camped out. Dan was surprised when he returned from the bathroom to find his tent missing! We waited while he searched and then decided to tell him we moved it so the fires embers wouldn't set it on fire.

During the night, I heard a bunch of coyotes having a yip yap session that was pretty entertaining. After a few minutes, I decided to put in my earplugs.

At around 5:00am I heard a Turkey gobbling. It turns out that this Turkey had been roosting in a tree in the woods near the campsite. When daybreak came, it flew down to Jack's tent and gobbled some more! Well, you now how the saying goes, "Birds of a feather......".:D

We went to a diner in Copake for breakfast and then JohnS. took us on some great roads in the Berkshires of western Massachusetts with lots of twists and turns. Thanks John! He split from the group near Wilmington, VT

Jack took me, Dan and Rob on a nice gravel road by a river in Searsburg I think. We saw a Bald Eagle and Jack told us there are three nesting pairs in the area.
http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i291/jackpiner57/2007_0506adironacksmap0018.jpg


Rob found a spot to jump his Strom, so I tried it too. We couldn't get up enough speed to really launch though, but it was fun. Jack then took us from Wilmington, VT to Saxtons River. Jack and I took a nice ride north on Rt.5 to Ascutney and split for home.

Since I got there late, I missed the ride through the Catskills. I did get to ride Rt. 22 from the Turnpike to Copake Falls though. That was just a teaser, but I will be back because that is a beautiful area to ride.

My riding total was 538.3 miles.

Thanks to all for a good time.:D

[jackpiner57]

We should rent 50 school busses for the next attempt. Maybe a ring of fire too.

Sounds great! You go first and we'll see how that goes.:D

Thanks tmcgee! Those are nice pics of the campsite.

[tmcgee]

Since I got there late, I missed the ride through the Catskills. I did get to ride Rt. 22 from the Turnpike to Copake Falls though. That was just a teaser, but I will be back because that is a beautiful area to ride.

Yeah, I took that road on the way home Sunday morning. Very nice valley.

I have a track from the Saturday ride and I'm still trying to figure out the best way to display it. This is what Google Earth does to it. The vertical path that trails off to the southwest is my track getting to the meeting place on Saturday morning.

http://img520.imageshack.us/img520/4938/googleearthimage1yr0.jpg

[VtSTROM-K5]

Well, I think I enjoyed putting this together as much as you folks did coming on it. It wasn't as much work putting it together as you might think, you just need to be a little bit organized, everyone who shows up has to ride thier own ride, so you don't need to worry too much. You will notice in all the pictures I seem to staring at map, or pointing which way we're going... I even did this for some stranded festival go-ers on Saturday... "We're from the City and have no idea about all these places/bridges/roads you keep talking about." But pretty much here's the checklist I used:

~Campsite
~Nearby town with decent hotel
~Friday night meet and greet location, time
~Saturday AM rendezvous location, time
~Expected return, for reference, we did about 320 miles in 8.5 hours start/return or 37 mi/hr with our breaks... And we didn't stop much or for long.
~Saturday Dinner can be flexible, as can Sunday breakfast.

And have a general idea of the route you want to take. Exploring is fun, but trying to turn around a group on a dead end cow-path can be real pain, and constant stops to check the map/GPS can detract from the day. I took breaks every 40-80 miles, depending on available locations, and upcoming expected roads (rest before the real twisty bits so everyone's fresh).

It's harder if you don't know the area really well, but the internet can solve most of the issues, I've personally not been to the Catskills in about 15 years before this trip...

So, who's got the next one?


And thanks to everyone who posted pictures...

JohnS.

I think it's the New Hampster peoples turn to Show off their beautifull State...;)

What do you guys say?? :rolleyes:

[JohnS.]

The line off the Southwest in Tom's map may be his route to the site, but the little line off to the Northwest in the middle of the shape was me taking everyone on a wrong turn. On the flipside, we DID get to find the worlds most expensive gas station... Sorry about both of those...

JohnS.

[tmcgee]

I've got a track uploaded to Google Earth and it's very cool to watch the animation. So far, I haven't found out the way to share the view.

I'm still working on Google Maps too.

[VtSTROM-K5]

I did the numbers and including (the most expensive gas I've Ever seen) My total miles for the trip was 741.6 :mrgreen:
I was able to do the last 56 miles driving directly into the setting sun :confused:
:mrgreen::mrgreen: The most smiles per mile :mrgreen::mrgreen:

[RedAnt]

All of my pictures can be found at the following URL:
http://www.sr.unh.edu/~rea/stromtrooper/2007/May/Copake/

I like to call this one "MiloFu's seat one step ahead of him.":twisted:

http://www.sr.unh.edu/~rea/stromtrooper/2007/May/Copake/.thumb800/20070506_132842.jpg

[dmf109]

I think it's the New Hampster peoples turn to Show off their beautifull State...

Good idea. I'd like to work one up that would include Mt. Washington. Maybe include a stop for what are supposed to be the best fried clams in the state. Maybe too, a loop along the coast (may be iffy, given all the sloooow traffic out there).

[tmcgee]

Maybe too, a loop along the coast (may be iffy, given all the sloooow traffic out there).

Without traffic, a NH coast ride would take aout 10 minutes. :rolleyes:

[GreatWhiteHunter]

I'm really sad that I missed this trip, right up to about a day before I was looking at ways that I could make it to at least meet up with you guys somewhere. Just didn't work out.

Hopefully I'll catch up sometime soon!

Great pix btw!

[dmf109]

Without traffic, a NH coast ride would take aout 10 minutes. :rolleyes:

Har, har, harrr! :mad:

There are actually some sweet roads inland a bit that snake all over and have some great scenery. But I can guarantee we'd get stuck behind a ton of slow cruisers or cars. Perhaps even a jeep or two.

[RedAnt]

Har, har, harrr! :mad:

There are actually some sweet roads inland a bit that snake all over and have some great scenery. But I can guarantee we'd get stuck behind a ton of slow cruisers or cars. Perhaps even a jeep or two.

I'm sure I know a few nice roads that don't have too much traffic.

A few weekends ago I did a ride up the Maine coast and then up the Saco river. Parts of that were very good, others would have too much traffic in a few weeks.

I've been thinking about a "Seacoast seedy underbelly tour". There are a lot of great roads that go past Dumps.

[JohnS.]

I work in Schectady, I'm used to riding past dumps. Actually, I personally find abandoned industrial sites quite interesting... But then again, you all wouldn't be the first people to think I'm strange.

Set it up for June and I'm there...

JohnS.

[tmcgee]

I'm really sad that I missed this trip, right up to about a day before I was looking at ways that I could make it to at least meet up with you guys somewhere. Just didn't work out.

We really had two separate rides over the weekend, along with the groups of 2 and 3 getting there or going home. Joining in on any of it would be a good thing. It's a good group and everyone is invited.

[VtSTROM-K5]

I have been known to ride a couple hours just to have lunch in Lake placid or dinner in syracuse (The Dinosaur BBQ) and then find a place off the side of the road to camp for the night;) .. the Seacoast Underbelly tour sounds like a great time :cool:
Also since we're all on this thread i'll post it here as well ....NO GO ON CHANGING THE DATES( again) :???:...looks like we go either later or I can't make this one :(

But if you have a group that can't go anyother time I will understand.:cool:

[MiloFu]

I've been very busy farkling my new Vee. Now if I only had the slightest idea how to post pictures...I'll get around to researching it someday, hopefully sooner than later.
Use your imagination- Black and Charcoal Vee, Sargent seat with silver gray piping, motech side racks, two different size Givi side cases (E 21's for everyday use and E 41's for touring), V46 top case using Motech Alu-rack system, and Givi windshield (minus that nasty, IMHO,black edge).
Has anyone noticed that the black in the '07 Vees has a really cool blue metalflake when seen in the sun? I didn't know it 'til about the 3rd day I owned mine, when the sun finally came out.
I still would like to hear some specifics on the routing you guys rode on Saturday. Did you hit any of those roads I mentioned? I'll take the Catskills over the Adirondacks in terms of great variety of roads, but not the scenery of the North Country. Details, give me details!

[tmcgee]

I still would like to hear some specifics on the routing you guys rode on Saturday. Did you hit any of those roads I mentioned? I'll take the Catskills over the Adirondacks in terms of great variety of roads, but not the scenery of the North Country. Details, give me details!

I'm still working on getting a track file into a format to share. Too much damnwork® came in while I was away for 3 days.

[tmcgee]

Okay, this is the exact ride we took on Saturday, May 5. The ride started in Kingston, NY. The track between Fogelsville, PA and Kingston was my commute to the start of the ride.

http://connect.garmin.com/zumo/activity/2700456

[bmah]

Well, we'll see if I did this correctly. Those in attendance at Copake Falls should be in one of these attachments. It was a real pleasure meeting you gentleman. The other photos are from after we parted ways on Sunday morning. Me and Wee continued on for 9 days and just over 3,000 miles thru NY, PA, WV, VA, TN, KY, OH, PA, NY, MA and finally home to NH. The bridge photo is from New River Gorge in Fayetteville, WV. Over 900' from the roadway to the river below.

[tmcgee]

That Rockettes shot was worth the prep time, Jim. Merci!

[RedAnt]

Well, we'll see if I did this correctly. Those in attendance at Copake Falls should be in one of these attachments. It was a real pleasure meeting you gentleman. The other photos are from after we parted ways on Sunday morning. Me and Wee continued on for 9 days and just over 3,000 miles thru NY, PA, WV, VA, TN, KY, OH, PA, NY, MA and finally home to NH. The bridge photo is from New River Gorge in Fayetteville, WV. Over 900' from the roadway to the river below.

That shot did turn out nicely. Can we get a larger version?

Sounds like a good trip. Will there be a ride report? I like the bridge picture, I'm sure you have a lot of nice shots of that trip.

I would be interested to hear how you liked the new bike. Also if after that trip you know what mods you did that really helped and what you still need to do for a trip of that scale.

[jakezog3rd]

John, from the Albany area lets hok up! Ride the stroms.